December 27, 2007

Russia to renew agreements with EU after trade tension with Poland

Russia announced it is ready to extend the annual partnership and cooperation with the EU after its 2005 ban on Polish meat imports.

On December 1, the initial term of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement expired, but there is a provision to extend it annually if both sides agree, Alexander Grushko told journalists.

Grushko said Moscow hopes to renew Russia-EU agreements after the Polish meat issue has been resolved.

In November 2005 Russia banned the import of Polish meat and other agricultural produce due to what it called low quality of meat and other products from Poland.

The ban caused tension between Russia and Poland. Poland vetoed talks on a new Russia-EU partnership and cooperation agreement in protest against the embargo.

However, Donald Tusk's victory in Polish parliamentary elections in October 2007 prompted hopes that Warsaw would take a more compromising stance in disputes with Russia, including on the meat issue.

On December 19, 2007, the two countries signed a memorandum lifting the ban on Polish meat supplies.

Grushko said Russia-EU trade turnover in 2007 could reach US$270 billion. He said Russia is in the top three of the EU's leading partners.